In the devastated streets of Gaza, amidst the rubble that has become silent witnesses to an unending tragedy, families search for their missing loved ones. Some were buried under the debris, others were taken to Israeli detention centers without a trace, while hundreds were buried in unknown mass graves.
Thousands of families live in painful anticipation, swinging between hope and despair, in the absence of a clear mechanism to uncover the fate of the missing and to document what has happened.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe in Numbers
According to the Ministry of Health and Civil Defense in Gaza, the number of missing persons exceeds 14,000, with the majority believed to have been martyred under the rubble or detained without their fate being revealed.
More than 600 bodies have been recovered after the ceasefire, while reports confirm that 2,842 people were obliterated by the intense Israeli bombardment, making identification and documentation nearly impossible, especially given the lack of DNA testing facilities within the Gaza Strip.
The Missing: Between Captivity and Mass Graves
Since the beginning of the war, Israel has refrained from disclosing the names and numbers of detainees, adding to the anguish of families searching for their loved ones without any official information.
Survivor testimonies revealed that the Israeli army set up checkpoints resembling “death traps,” where civilians were sorted, and some were taken to unknown locations without any way to communicate with their families.
On the other hand, during periods of intense bombing, residents were forced to bury hundreds of bodies in mass graves or random locations, unable to properly document names or bid farewell to the victims in a dignified manner.
After the cessation of military operations, families began searching for the unknown graves, witnessing heart-wrenching scenes of bodies that could only be identified through remnants of clothing or personal belongings.
Psychological and Social Impacts of Losing Loved Ones
The disappearance of thousands has left devastating social and psychological effects. Women who lost their husbands without knowing their fate find themselves in a complex legal situation—not officially widows, nor married—exposing them to serious economic and social challenges.
Children who have lost their fathers without knowing what happened to them suffer from lasting psychological trauma. They grow up surrounded by confusion and fear, in an environment lacking answers or reassurance.
Efforts to Document the Tragedy and Seek Justice
In response to this humanitarian crisis, human rights advocates and activists have announced the launch of a specialized organization to document cases of the missing and forcibly disappeared. The aim is to gather information and document cases to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable in the future. This initiative is called the Palestinian Center for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has also introduced an electronic model to register data on martyrs and missing persons, aiming to build a comprehensive and accurate database that will contribute to documentation and accountability efforts.
The Missing: A Cause That Will Not Die
Journalist Tamer Al-Mishal said, “The issue of the missing is the most painful and heartbreaking. Let us share their names, raise their voices, and stand with their families.”
These words summarize the truth that the missing are not just numbers, but souls and stories stolen by war.
This issue must not be buried in reports but should instead become an international cause at the forefront, demanding justice, uncovering the truth, and ensuring that this tragedy does not repeat in the future.
